5 Reasons to Work from Home

Reasons to work from home include: no commute, fewer expenses, your own schedule, and helping the environment.

June 06, 2017 2 minute read

Working from home is no longer an atypical job arrangement that only a few people utilize. Over the past few years, it’s become the norm for many workers. Companies of various sizes within a wide range of industries are now allowing their employees to work remotely, whether occasionally or year-round.

While this setup isn’t necessarily for everyone—as some people would prefer to work in an office or onsite—many would jump at the chance to telecommute.

Five reasons to work from home include:

1. No Commute

It’s safe to say that very few people, if any, enjoy their commutes to work. Although it may only take some people 20 minutes, it may take others close to an hour or more, depending on where they live and work, and their mode of transportation. Working from home would eliminate this part of your day, which lets you avoid the rush hour traffic that inevitably occurs when an influx of people are leaving their homes and heading in the same direction all at once. This also increases employee productivity, because you’ll save time.

2. Fewer Expenses

Because you’re not driving to work every day or taking the subway, for instance, you’re going to save a substantial amount of money. And although owning a few suits and/or other professional clothing is never a bad idea, especially if you meet with clients from time to time, you would not have to spend as much money on work clothes. With fewer expenses to worry about, you’ll have more money in your pocket. Who wouldn’t want that?

3. Better for the Environment

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's community survey report Who Drives to Work? Commuting by Automobile in the United States: 2013, 76.4 percent of Americans 16 years of age and older drive alone to work. If you’re one of these people, not only would you save money by working remotely, but you would also be helping the environment, as there would be less fuel emissions in the air.

4. Flexible Schedule

One of the major reasons to work from home has to do with flexibility. You can create the schedule that is best for you and your family. While you may have to work around other people’s schedules if you need to go into the office once in a while, you’ll be able to capitalize on your most optimal and productive hours. This can be especially helpful for parents, as they can take a break in the middle of the day to pick up their kids from school, or run a few errands.

However, just because you have a flexible schedule doesn’t mean you can procrastinate. One way to make sure you will get everything done on your to-do list, whether work- or family related, is to plan out your schedule at the beginning of the week.

5. Higher Job Satisfaction

When you don’t have to deal with the stress of getting to work, as well as associated costs, and you're able to work whenever you want, you’re probably very satisfied with your employment. Since your job takes up so much of your time, whether you telecommute or not, having an advantageous work setup will likely make you a happier person, too, overall.